The Prince: Machiavelli

A prince, therefore, being compelled knowingly to adopt the beast, ought to choose the fox and the lion, because the lion cannot defend himself against snares and the fox cannot defend himself against wolves. Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves

Hobbes

All men are naturally equal. In a state of nature, before there is any government, every man desires to preserve his own liberty, but to acquire domination over others; both these desires are dictated by impulse to self-preservation. From their conflict arises a war of all against all, which makes life “nasty, brutish, and short.”

Samuel Johnson

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.